Moving cross country - Reading PA to Spokane Wa

Hello!

I'm moving myself, plus my 18 year old, 20 year old and small dog across country from Reading, PA to Spokane, WA. I'm nervous as heck about such a long trip but excited too. We're traveling in a small sedan - no moving truck to worry about.

I'm hoping for any travel words of wisdom, suggestions for most economical dog friendly sleep over locations, and route suggestions.

Or... whatever else might be helpful to know when doing a trip of this length. It isn't so much a vacation for us - we hope to arrive in five days or less. However, a stop or two for something special is definitely hoped for. We are on an economy budget - :)

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

Five days of 500 miles per day is a reasonable pace to set yourself to stay safe and comfortable. The key is to treat it as a marathon and not a sprint, it's easy to get caught in the trap of pushing to far for the first day or 2 with the excitement and then start to suffer for the rest of the trip as a result of fatigue. So look at places somewhere between 475 and 550 miles apart on yourt various route options and see what appeals. I think Motel 6 are generally pet friendly but if you look at the RTA Roadtrip travel link to the right of each page, you can search for Pet friendly options.

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

The drive you're looking at will take a minimum of four and a half days to complete safely, so the first thing I'd urge you to do is to give up on the "or less" part of your wish to do the trip in 'five days or less'. The other major effort of your planning when on such a tight schedule is pacing, specifically where to spend each of your nights while on the road. It's tempting to want to 'wing it', relishing the freedom to stop at any site that catches your attention as you roll down the road, and be able to continue on into the evening if you're feeling good or pull up early if feeling tired. Doing so runs the risk of wasting time at tourist traps or finding suitable lodging on the fly. So do your homework, come up with a plan, and stick to it once on the road. Those are the basics of the kind of trip you'll be making.

Some specifics: There are a few pet-friendly, economical motel chains, most notably Motel 6 at the low end of the price scale and Days Inns about one step up from that. However, it is important to remember that whatever corporate headquarters' policy is, most motels are individually owned and the franchisee sets the final rules and costs. So a call ahead to your particular stopping point is absolutely needed to avoid surprises.

As far as routing goes. I hate paying for roads over and over and over, and so am an inveterate shunpiker. So, I am going to suggest that you skip the 'privilege' of paying for at least some of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, all of the Ohio Turnpike, the Indiana Toll Road, and various toll roads in Illinois, and instead leave the PA Turnpike at New Stanton and Follow I-70 west all the way to Kansas City and then take I-29 north along the Missouri River to Sioux Falls SD and I-90 the rest of the way to Spokane. This will cost you two extra hours of drive time, but save you the headaches of driving around Chicago as well as about $15-30 in tolls (depending on whether you have EZ Pass).

The biggest attractions that you would need to budget time for along the way would include the Arch in St. Louis, Badlands National Park in western South Dakota, and Little Bighorn Battlefield in south central Montana. You really don't have time for all of those, and the Arch in St. Louis is probably the most time consuming to get to. Other stops that you should forego for similar reasons (too far off your path and not 'worth it' on a trip like this include Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone. You just don't have the time. That doesn't mean that you don't have time for and shouldn't take at least a couple of short R&R breaks each day - you definitely should. It's just that you really don't have very much time to spare and so such stops should be quite near your route, and free if possible.

So use any and all of the suggestions above to plan your route. Another good rule of thumb is that a full travel day will get you about 550 mile down the road. Avoid the temptation to think you can do more. You will just tire yourselves out and make subsequent days worse. Treat this like a marathon, not a sprint. On days that you plan to make a big stop (more than an hour at a site) plan on proportionally fewer miles getting covered.

Let us know what you come up with as a first cut as to what YOU want to do and maybe we can add some more pertinent suggestions.

AZBuck

Southwest Dave and AZBuck, thank you so much for the replies. I'm going to hit the map now and look at your suggestions AZBuck. I had been considering investing in an EZPass for the trip - but if two hours drive time gets me off the toll roads and on a route that skirts Chicago (I was uncomfortable with navigating that mess), then it's a well spent two hours.

AZBuck, the route you recommended I had unreasonably assumed was an out of the way approach so had not mapped it for myself. Thanks to your input, I will now be stopping in Overland Park, Kansas (borders Kansas City) to stay over with a very good friend that I rarely ever get to see. :)

Be prepared for, but not disturbed by the endless miles of roadworks on I-70. These will slow you down, though from my experience last week, there were no holdups. Just make allowance for them.

Lifey

I had been told by a family member to not over plan - just wing it. I've decided to take the advice here and plan. I feel so much better about that. The person that really pushes the idea of "winging it" spent a night in their car on their trip. I'd rather skip that experience.

My initial plan looks like this:

Miles Motels: Address Phone Cost

496 Motel 6 Dayton Englewood Dayton, OH 45415 $60

457 Super 8 Motel Columbia Columbia, MO 65202 $75

139 Breakfast with Friend Overland Park, KS
285 Super 8 Sioux City South Sioux City, IA 51111 $75

361 Badlands National Park
113 Super 8 Belle Fourche Belle Fourche, SD 57717 $100

486 Super 8 Butte Butte, MT 59701 $100

189 Quinn's Hot Springs Paradise, Mt 59856 406-826-3150 ext. 1 $33
146 SPOKANE
LODGING TOTAL $443

Thank you Lifey!

Winging it vs. Preplanning each stop really is a complete matter of personal preference. If you like the security of knowing you have a place lined up to stay each night, then that's the way to go. I would say, just make sure you know the cancellation policies, so you have options in case something unexpected comes up.

I think you've got a solid plan laid out right now. With the costs, make sure you keep in mind that most places have extra high taxes on hotel rooms, so you'll usually pay an extra $10-20 on top of the room rate.

It looks like your happy with your route, since it gets you to visit your friend in Kansas. However, I will note that you could save yourself about 100 miles and still avoid Tolls and Chicago by using I-74 from Indianapolis to Iowa, and then I-80 across Iowa to I-29. If it were me, that extra 100 miles is a small price to visit an old friend, but if for some reason you need to save that last short day off your plans, that would be a place you could save a little time.

Your plan looks good and well spaced out for a relaxing drive and if you are happy with it why change it. However, if you wanted to spend a little more time catching up with your friend and/or at Badlands, you could make it to Overland Park for night two. At close to 1100 miles from Reading it's certainly possible in two days, although both would be reasonably long days, probably around 10 hours with rest breaks and food and fuel stops. Richmond IN would then be a close to mid-way point and I see there is a Super 8 Centerville-Richmond just off I70. [not sure if it's Pet friendly though.] Next night in Overland Park and possibly save on one nights lodging for the price of a meal. [?] Next day you then might be able to get further down the road, perhaps as far as Mitchell and the Corn Palace in SD and spend a little time at Badlands.

Have a great trip !

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496 Motel 6 Dayton Englewood Dayton, OH 45415 $60
457 Super 8 Motel Columbia Columbia, MO 65202 $75
139 Breakfast with Friend Overland Park, KS
285 Super 8 Sioux City South Sioux City, IA 51111 $75
361 Badlands National Park
113 Super 8 Belle Fourche Belle Fourche, SD 57717 $100
486 Super 8 Butte Butte, MT 59701 $100
189 Quinn's Hot Springs Paradise, Mt 59856 406-826-3150 ext. 1 $33

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We were very happy with Super 8's and Econo Lodge's on our trip. They are reasonable and usually comfortable, without being spartan (like many Motel 6's). I would check with each individual place about being pet-friendly, as there were several Super 8's on our trip that refused pets completely. Also, as was brought up, be sure to include the taxes in the room rate. You also might want to apply for a Wyndham membership (it's free) because once you hit 3 nights, they start discounting your rate. It adds up to some nice savings, as we found out.

We did Badlands on a 400 mile day, so at 300 miles and seeing the park, you'll be able to spend some time. There's one place with a 1-mile loop trail up to an observation deck: well worth the time it takes, which for us was about 1/2 hour!

In Columbia, most folks like Flat Branch for a place to eat dinner. Also, there's a place called Tropical Liqueurs, which serves drinks that are out of this world. They're basically a Slurpee but in an alcohol format. I realize this isn't for everybody, but we enjoyed it. There's one right in downtown Columbia, not that far a drive from the Super 8.


Donna

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Originally Posted by DonnaR57.] We did Badlands on a 400 mile day, so at 300 miles and seeing the park, you'll be able to spend some time.

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285 Super 8 Sioux City South Sioux City, IA 51111 $75
361 Badlands National Park
113 Super 8 Belle Fourche Belle Fourche, SD 57717 $100

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Maybe I'm reading this wrong [?] but I think the plan is to go from Sioux City to Belle Fourche with a stop in Badlands on the way. That is a journey of 480 miles before the detour, which would be quite a day.

This is by far the most helpful forum, on any topic, that I've ever been in. I'm working my way through the various suggestions to see what they look like.

For cost on my initial travel list, I added approximately $20 to every hotel cost to be on the safe side. I'd rather have money left over than run short. If I can cut this trip down by one day, that would be wonderful. My 20 year old is a brand new driver and is willing to do some driving. I don't know what the roads are like (twists and turns/traffic) so am unsure what it looks like for a new driver assisting.

I read it wrong? I'm sorry. Yes, 480 miles AND sightsee a park that will take 3-4 hours, is a long day on the road. If you're just trying a drive-through and don't do more than a stop or two, it would still be do-able though.



Donna

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If I can cut this trip down by one day, that would be wonderful.

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Just to be clear, I wasn't suggesting you cut back a day but instead move the overnight locations to accomodate your friend and a quick visit to Badlands a little better. If you did cut back by a day you would be hard pushed to have enough time to do either.

As I noted in my initial response, this is not a trip that can be done in less than an absolute minimum of four and a half days. Period. And even that would require that you take the shortest route possible, the turnpikes through Chicago. By spending just a few extra hours and taking a full five days, you save money, avoid Chicago, see your friend in Overland Park, and have a relaxed journey with a little wiggle room for visiting a site or two along the way. To me, it simply isn't worth it to throw all that away and take the very real risk of pushing yourself past exhaustion, all to try to save a day on the road.

As for you new-to-driving 20 year old, the Interstates are about as safe as any roads on the planet and would be a good opportunity for him to contribute physically to this trip while also gaining some confidence in his driving. I wouldn't let him loose around major cities such as Indianapolis, St. Louis or Kansas City, or on the old and narrow Pennsylvania Turnpike for that matter, but anywhere else he should be able to do just fine. Let him do a two hour stretch each day to give you a break.

AZBuck

Quick question. Once I reach shortly past Rapid City, SD I can take 212 or 90. Which is the easier drive?

I've gotten momentarily lost in the maps.

US-212 is marginally shorter, both in terms of distance and time, but does not go by the Little Bighorn Battlefield. It will also have fewer services and fellow travelers than I-90. Which way you go is entirely up to you.

AZBuck

I would pretty strongly recommend I-90. Despite what google might say, US-212 isn't going to save you any time and is going to take you through much more remote country. Based on what you've told us, I don't get the impression that is what you are looking for.

Right now, it looks like you are planning for 5.5 days for this trip, so there is a little room to cut it down just to 5 days. However, it would mean you would have to give up something. You'd probably have to cut out either your trip to visit your friend, instead using the shortcut on I-74 I suggested, or missing the badlands, or possibly both.

Here's how to completely avoid the PA Turnpike tolls:

Take 183 or 61 north out of Reading to I-78. Take that to I-81 to Hagerstown MD, then I-70 to Hancock MD, I-68 to Morgantown WV, then I-79 back to I-70.

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Take that to I-81 to Hagerstown MD, then I-70 to Hancock MD, I-68 to Morgantown WV, then I-79 back to I-70.

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Just used this "shunpike" route this summer, though in reverse. I-68 in West Virginia and Maryland is a really beautiful drive!


Donna

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Just used this "shunpike" route this summer, though in reverse. I-68 in West Virginia and Maryland is a really beautiful drive!

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As did I, and would have to agree with all of the above.

Lifey